Joey Barton believes Ipswich Town can ill-afford to drop any more points in their race for promotion from League One as Bristol Rovers take on the Tractor Boys at the Mem looking to reverse their own run of poor form.
The Gas have lost their last four league games to fall from eighth to 14th in the standings and firmly keep in check any aspirations of challenging for a play-off place, but Rovers' pre-season expectations - at least, externally - were never quite so lofty; survival first, consolidation in the division next, and then potentially a run at something more ambitious.
Ipswich, on the other hand, have only promotion to aim for, and preferably automatic, possessing the largest playing budget in the league after considerable financial backing from American-based investment group Gamechanger since they purchased a majority stake in the club in April 2021.
